Ditching-machine.



G. A. KIMBREL.

DtTCHiNG MACHINE. APPLICATION mu) DEC.2, 1913.

Llw l o 4 Patented m 11, 1915.

4 SHEETS-$HEET 1.

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.1x KHVIBREL. DITCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.2, {9]3.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

G, A. KEMBEEL.

DITCHING MACHINE.

- APPLICATION FILED iii-$0.2. 1913. 1 139 19% Patenfied May 11, 19K

shorten A. KIMEREL, or svonnALE, oononeno.

DiTGEING-MACHINE.

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ditching mechines and it consists in the novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

[in object of the invention is to provide a. machine of the character indicated compris a Wheel mounted frame supporting a v trunk in. an inclined position. A conveyor belt is mounted for movement along the trunk and meansis provided for operating" helt from the supporting Wheels of the frame. At the lower end of the said trunk is located a dirt gatherer with a, pilot conveyer hand belt leading from the same to the receiving end of the first mentioned ele vator belt. Means is provided for operating the pilot belt from the operating mechanismof the said elevator belt. A. supplemental frame is pivotally supported upon the axle ofithe machine and extends in advance of the. dirt gotherer. Levers are pivoted upon the supplemental frame and are connected with the dirt gatherer. lhe said levers may he swung to raise: or. lower the dirt gatherer with relation to'the surface of the ground. Sta-rider" s are movablymounted at the forward. portions of the supplemental frame and may be adjusted vertically to regulate the depth at which the dirt gathcrer will operate below the surface of the soil. A shi'i ohle rlevis is mounted at the forward pr on o t e sup 'alemental frame.

A second trunk is pivotally mounted at the rear portion of the main frame of the machine end'iheens is provided for swingin. the lastnrentioned trunk to dispose the same at a desired angle with relation to a liori;' 'ortal -and also to pcsition'tlie same at either lLlC: oi" main frame of the machine.

conveyor belt is mounted for movement along last mentioned trunk and means is provided for operating th last mentioned belt from he supporting axle of the machine. Also this last mentioned means includes mechanism for reversing the move ment to the last mentioned belt so that either of the two runs of the hell:- may be used for conveyin irt hcvond the side oi the frame of maze... In the accompanying d:

Specification of Letters Yatent.

lPeitented tr y ii. tees.

Application filed December 2, 1918. Serial No. 864,321.

1 is' a top plan view of the ditching mechine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the some. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View of the same. Fig. 4 is a. rear end view of the some with parts broken away. Fig. 5 is a trans verse sectional'view of a forward portion of the same. Fig. 6 is a plan view of mechanism located at the intermediate portion of the same. Fig. '7 is a detailed fragmentary view of a forward portion of the same showin%parts in section.

he ditching machine includes a main frame 1 in which is journoled an axle 2.

Ground or supporting wheels 3 are journaled upon the ends of the axle 2 and ere provided at their inner side with clutch member's l.

Clutch members 5 are slide-lily mounted upon the axle 2 but are constrained to robabe with the same and the outer ends of springs 6 bear against the inner surfaces of the clutch members 5 and are under compression with a. tendency to force the said clutch members 5 toward the clutch members 4. Any suitable means may be pro vided for moving the clutch members 5 away from the clutch members t and for positively holding them out of engagement with the said clutch members t against the compression of'the springs 6. When the clutch members 5 are free to move under the .compression .of the springs 6 toward the caused to rotate in unison with the wheels 3.

However should one of the ground wheels 3 rotate in a backward direction as for instance when the machine is being turned around the clutch member 4: attached thereto may escape the adjacent clutch member 5 and consequently it the ex le 2 is rotated at all it is turned through the engagement of the other clutch member 4- and the member 55.

The axle 2 is also journaled in bearings 7 against the outer sides of which the springs 6 may bear and the rear end of a supplemental frame 8 is fixed to the hearings 'Z. The frame8 is provided at its forward portion with"guides 9 which slidehly receive standards 10. Ground wheels 11 are journalcd at the lower portions of standards 10. The standards 10 are provided at their rear sides with teeth and hreckets 13 extend journaied for rotation in the brackets 13 and carries gear wheels 15 which mesh with the teethl2 of the standard. Therefore it provided at the under side of thh forward 3 will be seen that by rotating .the shaft 14 the gear wheels 15 meshing with the teeth 12 will cause the standards 10 to move vertically in the guides 9. Inasmuch as the ground wheels 11 are adapted to trawl along the surface of the soil it will be seen that by shifting the standards 10 as above indicated the forward portion of the supplemental frame 8 'mny be raised or lowered with relation to the surface of the ground.

Aclevis 16 is mounted for movement transversely of the forward portion of the supplemental frame 8 and a shaft 17 is journcled in the lower portion of the said clevis. The shaft 17 carries a gear wheel 18 which meshes with a. set ofi gear teeth 19 portion of the supplemental'frame 8. The

supplemental frame 8 is further provided with another set of ear teeth 20 with which s gear wheel 21 mes es. The gear wheel 21 is journaled upon the clevis 16. By rotating the shaft 17 the gear wheel 18 meshing with the. teeth 19 will move the clevis 16 from one side toward the other side of the supplemental frame 8 and the gear wheel 21 meshing with the teeth 20 will prevent the clevis from binding upon the forward portion of the frame 8 during such shifting movement. A tongue 22 is mounted upon the forward portion of the supplemental frame 8. In operation the draft animals are connected with the clevis '16 in any suitable manner and by shifting the clevis with relation to the frame 8 as above indicarted the draft or pull from the draft animals may be shifted to one side or the other of the machine. o

A forwardly and downwardly inclined trunk 23 is mounted upon the main frame 1 and the said trunk carries at its lower end a dirt gatherer 2 1. Levers 25 are -tulcrumed at the sides of the supplemental frame 8 and links 26 pivotally connect the working ends of the said levers with the dirt gatherer 24. Therefore it will be seen that when the ground wheels 11 are in contact with the surface of the ground the upper ends or the levers 25 may be swung reurwardly until they come in contact with/the forward portion of the main frame .1. swinging movement of the levers 25 the dirt gatherer 2d is lowered. When the power ends of'the levers 25 are swung in a forward direction the links 26 are moved vertically or lo itudinally in a downward di: rection whei iv the dirt gatherer 24.- is lowered with relation to the surface of the soil.

A shaft 27 is journeled intermediate the During this icence ends of the trunk 23 and cerriw ct each end a gear wheel 28 which gear whecis mesh edges to the chains. 31 and the said belt carries upon its out-er sides cross siats 33 posi tioned at suitable intervals apart.

A roller 34 is journaled at the upper end I of the trunk 23 and the belt 32 passes around the said roller.

Sprocket wheels 35 are located at the endsof the roller 34 and the chains 31 puss around the said sprocket wheels.

A roller 36 is journaled for rotation the lower forward end of the trunk 23 end the belt 32 passes around thelast mentioned roller.

Sprocket wheels 31 are located at the ends of the roller 36 end the chains 31 puss around thesaid sprocket wheels 37.

Supporting sprocket wheels 38 are journaled at suitable intervalsalong the sides of the trunk 23'and are adapted to support the upper run of the chains 31. V

A lower roller 39 is journaledupon the dirt gatherer 2 and an upper roller 49 is also journaled upon the said gatherer.

A pilot belt 41 is trained around the rollers 39 and 40.

S rocket wheels 42 are fixed with. relation to tlie roller 39 and sprockets 43 are fixed with relation to the roller 36.

Sprocket chains 44 are trained around the sprocket wheels s2 and 43. i 4 Therefore it will be seen that as the gear wheel 29 rotates with the cxie2 the said gear wheel will rotate the gear} wheels 23 and shaft 27. Inasmuch as the chains 31 engc e the sprocket wheeis 30 the said chains will bemoved and the upper run of the belt 32 will be moved resrwardiy along the trunk 23. At the same time the sprocket chains lilo 4 1 will move the upper run of the belt &1

in a rearward direction. Therefore as the dirt getherer 24 encounters and accumulates the dirt the same is forced realrwardly upon the upper run of the pilot belt i1 which carries it back and deposits it upon the-upper run of the. belt 32. The said belt carries of the trunk 23 and e shaft 4'? is edjinstehiy mounted in the said standards The said shaft 47 is held against rotation end in an adjusted position by set'screws &8 which pass through the said standards end impinge gear Wheels '52 are shifted against the said shaft. Sprocket wheels 49 are loosely mounted on the shaft 47 and sprocket wheels 50 are fixed to the axle 2. Sprocket chains 51 are trained around the sprocket Wheels 49 and 50 and serve as means for transmitting rotary movement from the axle 2 to the sprocket wheels 49 which are loosely mounted upon the shaft 47. Beveled gear wheels 52 are fixed to the inner sides of the sprocket wheels 49 and are spaced from each other by a sleeve 52 By loosening the set screws 48 the shaft 47 may be adjusted longitudinally and shoulders 53 carried by the said shaft will engage the sidesof the sprocket wheels 49 whereby the said'sprocket wheels and the beveled transversely of the frame 1. Y

Spaced brackets 54 are mounted upon the rear portion of the frame 1 and a shaft 55 is journaled in the said brackets. A beveled gear wheel 56 is mounted at the forward end of t J shaft 55 and either one ofe-the beveled gear wheels 52 may be moved into. engagement with the gear wheel 56. A trunk 57 is pivotally mounted upon the shaft 55 and chains 58 are mounted for movement along ,the said trunk. Sprocket wheels 59 are fixed to the shaft 55 and engage the links of the chains. A belt 60 is connected at its edges with a sprocket chain 58 and is provided upon its outer surface with cross slats 61. Suitable sprocket wheels 62 are journaled at intervals along the trunk 57 and serves to assist in supporting the chains 58. The receiving end of the trunk 57 is located under the delivery edge of the chute 45' A circular guide 63 is fixed to the rear portion of the frame 1 adjacent the rear standard 54 and the guide is provided with a circular set of teeth 64.

A shaft 65 is journaledin the trunk 57 and is provided at its rear end with a crank handle 66. Gear wheels 67 are fixed to the shaft 65 and mesh with the teeth 64. Therefore it will be seen that using the handle 66 and rotating the shaft 65 the gear wheels 67 in mesh with the teeth 64 will swing the trunk 57 so that its outer end may be raised or lowered or its outer end may be moved from one side of the frame 1 to the opposite side. at the opposite sides of the trunk 57 and also mesh with the teeth 64 and serve as means for steadying' the trunk 57 in its position with relation to the guides and the standards 54.

Gear wheels 68 are loosely journaled It is to be understood that when the trunk 57 is disposed at one side of the frame 1 the upper run of the belt 60 is caused to move from over the frame 1 beyond the edge thereof so that the dirt deposited upon the said belt is. conveyed to one side of the machine. hen the trunk 57 is turned over so that the other run of the belt 60 is brought to an uppermost position'the shaft 57 is moved so that the beveled gear wheel 56 meshes with the proper gear wheel 52 in order to cause the upper run of the belt 60 to travel in an outward direction with relation to the frame 1.

Therefore it will be seen that a machine 'of simple and durable structure is provided for elevating and conveying the dirt duing the operation of cuttinga ditch and the parts may be so proportioned as to cut ditches of comparatively small or great transverse breadth as maybe required.

Having described the invention what is claimed is 1. A ditching machine comprising a wheel mounted frame, an elevator mounted upon the frame,means for operating the elevator from the wheels, a trunk pivotally mounted upon the frame at the delivery end of the elevator, and having its delivery end free to be swung to one side or the other of the axis of the pivot a convey'er belt mounted for movement along the trunk, means for moving the c'onveyer belt from the supporting wheels and means for swinging the trunk to position its delivery end beyond either of the two sides of the main frame whereby material may be deposited by the elevator the frame, means for operating the elevator from the wheels, circular guides mounted upon the frame, a trunk pivotally mounted. between the guides, said guides having circular set of teeth, a shaft journaled upon the trunk and provided with gear wheels which mesh With-the teeth, a belt vmounted for orbital movement along the trunk, means for-operating the belt from the supporting wheels and shiftablelto cause the runs of the belt to move in either of two directions.

In testimony \vhereofI. afiiX my signatur in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE A.

KIMBREL. Witnesses Enw. MCDONALD, A. P. MERCER. 

